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Graduate Certificates

All certificates are available for those at Blacksburg campus, and the Human-System Integration and Technology Management are available for those at the extended campus as well.  If you have any questions, please contact the graduate program advisor.

The following certificates are available for the ISE graduate students.

This certificate provides an introduction to using human-centered approaches to address societal issues. 

The graduate certificate requires completion of 12 credit hours, with 6 credits prescribed, and 6 credits selected from two of three areas. Take both courses from the ‘Required’ section below, then choose at least 1 more course from any two of the areas 1, 2, and 3 for a total of 12 credits. (The elective courses should be in different areas.) Given that some of the courses are offered sporadically, potential substitutions are possible, where appropriate. If you have questions, please contact Ivica Ico Bukvic and Scott McCrickard, co-directors.

Required: INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

  • GRAD 5134: Topics in Interdisciplinary Research (when HCD topic is offered)
  • CS 5724: Models and Theories of Human-Computer Interaction

 

1. DESIGN STUDIES

  • ART 5524: Topics in Human Centered Design (studio)
  • ENGE 5024: Design in Engineering Education and Practice
  • STS 6614: Adv. TS: (Cultures of Design; Origins of Innovation)

 

2. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE

  • CS/ISE 5714: Usability Engineering
  • CS 5734: Computer-Supported Collaborative Work
  • EDIT 5234: Intro to the Learning Sciences
  • ENGE 5404: Assessment Techniques in Engineering Education
  • ISE 5604: Human Information Processing I
  • ISE 6604: Human Factors in Visual Display Systems
  • ISE 6094: Cognitive Task and Work Analysis
  • PSYCH 5354: Information Processing
  • STS 6244: TS: History, Culture, and Politics of the Internet

 

3. DESIGN REALIZATION

  • ART 5714: TS: Creative Code for Art & Design; TS: Interaction Design
  • CS 5764: Information Visualization
  • CS 5774: User Interface Software
  • CS 6724: Advanced Topics In Human­ Computer Interaction
  • ECE 5564: Wearable + Ubiquitous Computing
  • EDIT 5624: Interactive Learning Media, Arts, and Design
  • EDIT 5614: Digitally Mediated Learning
  • EDIT 5624: Interactive Learning Media, Arts, and Design
  • EDIT 5634: Interactive Learning Media Development
  • ENGL 5074: Introduction to Digital Humanities
  • ENGL 6344: Rhetoric in Digital Environments
  • ISE 6604: Human Factors in Visual Display Systems
  • ISE 6614: Human Computer Systems
  • ME 5644: Rapid Prototyping

 

 

Human-Centered Design and Human-Computer Interaction certificate programs

For graduate students interested in the design of interactive systems, there are two graduate certificates: the Human-Centered Design certificate and the Human-Computer Interaction certificate.  

  • The HCD certificate program focuses on creating the “new” – that is, design. It does so through the application of a “human-centered” paradigm; some key human-centered methodologies are participatory design and user experience design. Designing this way can be applied in many areas from consumer products to computer interfaces.

  • The HCI certificate program, in contrast, does not emphasize (or even require) design. It focuses specifically on computer and information system interfaces. There are many ways of knowing what constitutes a “good” interface and the certificate program approaches the question using research, evaluation and design ways of knowing.

Thus, the two certificate programs complement one another. It is possible to attain both certificates with careful planning of additional course work and selection of thesis or dissertation topics.  Courses may be counted towards no more than two credentials (certificates and degrees).

2013-2015 course list

The following is the previous course list. It is provided for those students who have already begun the HCD Certificate program:

The graduate certificate requires completion of 12 credit hours, with 6 credits prescribed, and 6 credits selected from across two of three areas. Take both courses from the ‘Required’ section below, then choose 2 more courses from area 1, 2, or 3 for a total of 12 credits.

REQUIRED

  • GRAD 5134: Topics in Interdisciplinary Research (3 credits- when HCD topic is offered)
  • ART 5524 (ART 5984 Fall 2014): Topics in Human Centered Design (3 Credits, Fall only)

 

Area 1: Creative Problem Solving

  • ART 5714: TS: Creative Code for Art & Design; TS: Interaction Design
  • EDIT 5624: Interactive Learning Media, Arts, and Design
  • ENGE 5024: Design in Engineering Education and Practice
  • ME 5644: Rapid Prototyping

 

Area 2: Computational Practices

  • CS/ISE 5714: Usability Engineering
  • CS 5724: Models and Theories of HCI
  • CS 5764: Information Visualization
  • CS 5774: User Interface Software
  • CS 6724: Advanced Topics In Human­ Computer Interaction
  • ECE 5564: Wearable + Ubiquitous Computing
  • EDIT 5624: Interactive Learning Media, Arts, and Design E
  • EDIT 5634: Interactive Learning Media Development
  • ISE 5604: Human Information Processing I
  • ISE 6614: Human Computer Systems
  • ISE 6604: Human Factors in Visual Display Systems

 

Area 3: Interdisciplinary Research

  • EDIT 5234: Intro to the Learning Sciences
  • EDIT 5614: Digitally Mediated Learning
  • ENGE 5404: Assessment Techniques in Engineering Education
  • ENGL 5074: Introduction to Digital Humanities
  • ENGL 6344: Rhetoric in Digital Environments
  • STS 6244: TS: History, Culture, and Politics of the Internet
  • STS 6614: Adv. TS: (Cultures of Design; Origins of Innovation)

This certificate aims to give graduate students the opportunity to develop their skills in Human-Computer Interactions through courses and through their thesis or dissertation work.

Master's degree students complete 9 hours and doctoral students 15 hours of coursework for the certificate; at least two of the courses taken must be outside the student's degree program requirements and home department. These courses should be relevant to HCI; any exceptions to courses not on the web site must be cleared by the certificate coordinator. If the student writes a thesis or dissertation, it must be related to human-computer interaction. Students can normally fit the requirements for the certificate into their program of graduate study so that the time needed to complete the graduate degree in their basic discipline is not extended by simultaneously pursuing the certificate.

A four-course academic program that serves to expand and improve systems management and engineering practice, with emphasis on “human-technology interface” at various levels in the hierarchy and throughout the life cycle of complex technological and enterprise systems.
 
  • ISE 5804 Fundamentals of Systems Engineering  [context for HSI]
  • ISE 5154 Technology Enabled Human Performance  [critical component of HSI]
  • ISE 5144 Life Cycle Measurement of System Performance  [value impact of HSI]
  • ISE 5434 Economic Evaluation of Applied Technology

The Graduate Certificate in Mission Engineering is designed to teach students engineering methods to design, develop, and assess complex system-of-systems using mission engineering tools and practices in combination with the tactical insights of operational planning. Students will learn how to identify mission-level operational needs to develop clear problem statements and apply mission engineering techniques to translate these needs into specific programmatic guidance for critical programs.

A four-course academic program focused on the establishment, operation and management of enterprise capabilities for technological innovation – addressing the full spectrum of basic science (research), technology development (invention/intellectual property), product/service development, commercialization, deployment, maintenance, modernization, and retirement of performance enabling technologies.

  • ISE 5164 Transfer and Application of Emerging Technology
  • ISE 5174 Engineering Program and Project Management
  • ISE 5154 Applied Human Factors Engineering
  • ISE 5134 Enterprise Information Systems
For more information about our certificate programs, please contact :